Chapter 5
Skipper sat beside Dusty throughout the day, a silent protector, only leaving to stretch and collect oil. Dusty hadn't awoken since falling asleep after his episode.
Skipper looked down every so often as he felt the younger shift and sigh. He was beginning to feel the worrying heat coming off Dusty who had pushed himself to his side once again.
"I'm sorry, kid, but wake up." He nudged him and rolled forward to dislodge Dusty from his side.
Dusty groaned as he came round and slowly looked up at the older plane, his eyes watery and dull,
"What is it, Skipper?"
"I need to check if you're feeling alright. Your temperature was rising again."
"I'm okay, just tired and cold." He gave a sigh and shuddered.
"Hold tight for a minute. I'm going to get Dottie." Skipper didn't wait for a reply as he swiftly left.
'Dottie will have something to bring his temperature down.' He thought to himself
"Dottie, I'm needing something for Dusty. His temperature is rising again."
Dottie nodded before heading into the back of her workshop.
"Get him to sip this. It's coolant although I can't promise it will taste nice." She grimaced "I'll come round to check on him later today."
Skipper left with a nod and headed back to the hanger.
'Surely he should be improving by now!' he worried.
Entering the hanger, he noticed Dusty had fallen asleep again,
"Kid, wake up. I've got something for you." He nudged the ill plane.
Dusty opened his eyes and looked at him questioningly as Skipper placed a dark can in front of him,
"Dottie says you're to sip this. It's something to keep your temperature down."
Taking a sip, Dusty flinched at the taste as he swallowed,
"It tastes horrible!"
"I know but please drink some of it. It'll keep your temperature down and that's what we are all worried about at the moment."
Dusty glared at the can.
Skipper sighed, "Okay, you drink some and once you're better, we'll go on a trip for a couple of days. You choose the destinations." He bargained.
"Promise?"
"Yea."
Dusty sipped another couple of mouthfuls and looked at Skipper as his mentor pushed the can to the side.
"That'll do for now."
His smile turned into a frown as Dusty stared on, wide eyed, frozen.
"...kid?"
It happened so fast that Skipper himself rolled back, startled.
Dusty heaved violently, his tanks unable to cope with the coolant, forcing Dusty to spill their contents on to his bed of pillows and blankets that his friend had thoughtfully set out for him.
Skipper could only wait until the crop-duster was finished before helping the young plane avoid the mess and get him outside where he led him to Dottie's workshop. He looked back to see Dusty limp on behind him.
Chug and Dottie looked over as they heard the planes entering,
"Hey Dottie, Chug." He greeted "Dusty couldn't hold down the coolant." Dusty smiled sheepishly behind the elder.
Dottie looked towards Dusty, already noting down his appearance and condition however Dusty had his attention on Chug,
"I, I'm s, sorry, Chug. I kinda wasted the bed you set up for me...sorry."
"Oh, no worries, Duster." His friend smiled "We can get it cleaned up."
Dusty returned a small smile before shuddering.
"Chug, could you get Mayday? Let him no what has happened? See if you can get the hanger cleaned up."
Chug nodded, "Sure Dottie"
"Oh! and see if Sparky will help you to removed the blankets and pillows." Dottie called after him.
Realising there wasn't much else Dottie could do for the suffering plane, Skipper helped Dustie back to his own hanger while Dusty's was getting cleaned up. Passing the hanger, the two planes peered in to see their friends at work, Sparky catching their eyes,
"Hey Skip, Dusty! Hope to see you better soon, Duster." He smiled to the ill plane.
"Thanks, Sparky." Dusty smiled before frowning as he looked on past his friend, "Sorry."
Sparky looked back to were his friend was concentrating on before turning his attention back to the plane,
"Oh, don't worry about that! We'll be finished in no time." He grinned
Dusty nodded, still feeling guilty, before following Skipper as the old plane continued on.
Chapter 6
Skipper's hanger was much larger and with only a few pictures and maps on the walls. Skipper allowed the shivering plane to enter first.
Dusty stopped in front of the thin, spongy material that was taking up half the hangers floor. Skipper continued past him and rolled onto the mattress and looked at the plane who suddenly felt very awkward.
"What are you waiting for, Dusty?"
Dusty shrugged before moving onto mattress and turned around. Skipper stretched his wings out to all Dusty to shelter underneath them.
"You still feeling cold, Dusty?"
"A little bit but I know it's not."
Skipper pressed against Dusty to encourage the young plane to nestle against him. Skipper allowed his engine to heat up and sound off a deep purr. Dusty tried to reply in like but his engine let out a slight hum as his eyes closed. The older plane rested protectively at his side.
Skipper's hanger doors slid open causing the old plane to jump awake and instinctively position himself in front of the younger. Noticing it was just Sparky, his frame relaxed.
"Dusty's hanger is all cleaned up now, Skip."
"Thank you, Sparky."
Chapter 7
Dusty awoke alone and since it was dark behind the windows, Dusty realised it must have been night or late evening. Gathering up his strength, he pushed open the doors and peered outside. He called out, hoping someone would answer. Venturing further out, he turned to find the glow of fire coming up behind and the his sides. Finding himself unable to move, he panicked, calling out to finally see Skipper in front of him. Fire raged up, the light momentarily blinded him and Skipper was go...
"Skipper!"
Dusty panted as he looked about the hanger expecting to see his mentor but finding he was alone, he let out a high keen before racing for the doors, pushing them open.
It was dark out but he could see the lights on at their bar. Racing towards the building and entering he spotted Skipper at the back.
Skipper startled as he suddenly felt a weight pressed against his side. Looking down, he was surprised to find Dusty nuzzling him. Ignoring the spectators and Leadbottom, who he had been having a drink with, he whispered,
"Kid...What.."
He was cut off, just managing to hear the muffled voice of Dusty, "Nightmare. WokealoneandIwentoutsidebuttherewasafireandIcouldn'tmoveandyouwerebutthefiregotoyouandyoudiedandwhenIawokeyouweregoneandIwasaloneagainandthenIsawthebarlightsonsoIwenttolookhereforyouand..."He trailed off with a whimper.
Nodding to Leadbottom, "I'll see you in a bit." before leading Dusty back to the hanger once again.
"I only left you for fifteen minutes at least."
"Sorry."
"It's okay."
Giving the orange and white plane a nudge on to the mat, Skipper said, "Won't be a moment, just going to pay for my share of the drinks."
Dusty looked on feeling rather guilty, "I'm not a child! I don't need someone always beside me!" He chastised himself. He sobbed quietly, unaware that Skipper had returned rather quickly.
"Dusty. Everything is fine. Please stop crying."
"S..s..sorry, S..skipper." He stuttered through his hiccups.
Knowing Dusty wouldn't exactly feel tired enough to sleep some more, he set up a movie on his television and they settled down in a comfortable silence, just the noise of the telly filling the hanger.
Chapter 8
Dusty awoke early that morning feeling rather better. He smiled to himself as he looked at his mentor sleeping beside him. He was about to go and look for Chug or Dottie when it dawned on him that his right wing was under Skipper.
"Skipper" He whispered, a gruff snore was his only reply.
Holding back a snicker, he tried louder and gave the older plane a playful nudge to the side, "Skipper, wake up! I want to move please."
Opening his eyes slowly, Skipper looked down at the small plane beside him, yawning,
"Well, you're looking better." He remarked as he looked into the eyes of the young plane he now considered his charge.
"I am." He grinned "Can I go and see Chug?"
"Why are you asking me? If you feel fit enough go ahead. Just don't fly."
"I would but you're...my wing is...eh, under you..." He sheepishly looked up
"Ah" Skipper moved to free him. "On you go but let me sleep a bit longer." He said as his eyes closed.
Dusty smiled before leaving.
Well that's it for now folks :) Might do some one shots here and there but I'm not sure. Any ideas for me please share xD
Have a good day/night,
Jazz
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